WaterSafe Survey Reveals What Homeowners Really Look for in a Plumber on World Plumbing Day

The qualities that homeowners look for when choosing a plumber is for them to be qualified, trustworthy and knowledgeable about keeping drinking water safe, according to a survey by UK plumber approval register WaterSafe.

The survey asked 2,000 UK homeowners to pick the top three qualities they most valued when picking a plumber to work in their homes:

• 83% of respondents chose ‘qualified in plumbing’ as one of most important qualities when hiring a plumber
• 79% of respondents chose ‘trustworthy’
• 43% of respondents chose ‘has knowledge on keeping your water safe’.

The survey also revealed that almost a quarter of respondents valued ‘punctuality’ as one of the important qualities. ‘Neat and tidy’ took 15 per cent of the votes and ‘friendly’ won 14 per cent.

Other factors respondents also rated were cost and how soon the plumber could do the job.

However, the saying that ‘age is just a number’ proved to be the case, with only 7% of respondents saying age was important when looking for a plumber.

The release of WaterSafe’s latest research ties in with World Plumbing Day on Wednesday 11 March, which is initiated by the World Plumbing Council and celebrates the vital role that plumbers play in protecting public health.

All plumbers approved to be on the WaterSafe register have specific training in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Byelaws – protecting home and business owners from poor installation or the use of sub-standard plumbing products that can contaminate drinking water.

WaterSafe is supported by all UK water companies, who promote its members to their customers – giving peace-of-mind for those looking for a competent plumber.

An important factor when the survey results also showed 72% of homeowners felt more confident about using a plumber who was on a list promoted by their local water company.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, said: “Our latest survey shows the public are increasingly aware of the importance of using a plumber who is not only qualified, but also trained in the regulations that help keep drinking water safe.

“As World Plumbing Day celebrates the significant contribution that qualified, approved plumbers make to protect public health, it’s the perfect time to remind home and business owners not to take risks with their drinking water.”

Search the WaterSafe register online to find over 6,000 qualified UK plumbers trained in the water regulations and byelaws at watersafe.org.uk.